Pilot Scoop: Cinemax Orders 1970s Drama Quarry

Looking to further expand its original programming slate, Cinemax has ordered a ’70s-set drama pilot titled Quarry, TVLine has learned.

Based loosely on a series of books by Max Allen Collins, the project centers on a Marine marksman who, upon returning home from Vietnam in 1973, finds himself shunned by those he loves and demonized by the public. The disillusioned vet is quickly recruited into a network of contract killers and corruption spanning the Mississippi River.

Rectify scribes Michael D. Fuller and Graham Gordy penned the project and will exec-produce if the series moves forward. John Hillcoat (Lawless, The Road), meanwhile, serves as EP and director of the pilot, with Keith Redmon (Awake), Steve Golin, David Kanter and Matt DeRoss exec-producing, as well.

I recommend Strike Back as well. It’s like a cross between 24 and The Unit only on a ton of steroids (and yes, with nudity. It is Cinemax after all). Seriously though, I was very surprised at how well done the show was.

The Quarry books are a lot of fun– if they do it right, the Quarry character is akin to Dexter. Quarry’s not really “disillusioned” (as in the description above, which sounds a whole lot less fun than what the books really are)–Quarry’s more like psychotic, but he’s also the hero. And the Quarry novels preceded the Dexter novels by a good bit. The key thing will be picking the right actor.